Abstract: 【Abstract】Objective This study was designed to evaluate the quality of life (QOL) and the factors affecting QOL in patients on hemodialysis (HD) for more than two years in Taiyuan city, and to obtain information useful for the improvement of patients’ QOL and clinical practice. Methods We used a multicenter questionnaire survey, and recruited 125 patients on HD for more than two years from dialysis units in the 8 hospitals in Taiyuan city. Patients’ general condition and clinical data were collected. The Short Form-36 (SF-36) was used to measure the QOL scores. Results ① The overall SF-36 scores were 107.55±14.50 in patients on HD for more than two years. ② Age (F=4.972, P＜0.05) and gender (t=3.993, P＜0.01) affected the overall score of QOL. ③ Educational level affected QOL in their mental health (Z=-0.838, P＜0.05), residual urine volume related to QOL in their energetic level (Z=-2.465, P＜0.05), and diabetic nephropathy decreased QOL in their physiological function (Z=-2.062, P＜0.05). ④ The source of medical expanse, marital status, and different dialysis modalities had no effect on patients’ QOL. Conclusion QOL of patients on HD for more than two years was higher in Taiyuan city than in other cities. Relatively fewer factors affect QOL. Active compliance with dialysis treatment especially during the first two years is essential to increase QOL and life satisfaction.

Key words: Hemodialysis, Quality of life, SF-36 scale